Thats it...

InZaneFleaArmyInZaneFleaArmy Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 18Members
<div class="IPBDescription">I've had enough</div>I may as well quit mapping altogether.  I can't get anything done at all, it takes me 3 months to do 30 min worth of work, and I have no inspiration what so ever.  I can't do details, I'm sick of scrapping and redoing, I've never even finished one part of any map for NS, and It ****** me off.  I'm sick of ns_collapse and having to completely delete everytrhing I've worked on so I can add a small detail that looks really good.  I'm sick of it all.  I need a good old map plan that consists of details and such.  But I can't do that.  And when I do, everyone says my layout sucks (Ns_Breakdown for example...I thought the layout was great, and I spent 2 months in planning on paper.)  Unless I can think of something else, this is goodbye.  It's been fun (Well, usually) discussing and mapping with you all.

Comments

  • KilltoyKilltoy Join Date: 2002-03-28 Member: 358Members
    I don't know what to say but hang in there. I have never had a completed map that I'd dare show the greater public, but I never gave up trying.

    This may sound silly, but let the past be the past. Take your experiences from it and move on; leave everything else behind.

    Oh, and about the forums. Listen to the input you get from others, but trust your own judgement. <i>Always trust your own judgement.</i>

    And whatever you do, take it easy!
    KT
  • realityisdeadrealityisdead Employed by Raven Software after making ns_nothing Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 94Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    You know that I have been supporting you all the way, IFA, and you know what I would have to say about you quitting.
  • InZaneFleaArmyInZaneFleaArmy Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 18Members
    And just like that, Reality smacks me in the face and makes me drop and give it 100.  I just took a look at my first map "Ns_reaper"... It sucked.  The layout, is superb.  I scrapped all that I had, except for the basics (Walls, floors...ceilings..) And I'm at it again.  Hopefully this one will work with me.  Ken20Banks...I'm joining your forces.  Reality, bring it on.  Bast, move aside.  Hera, you can stay ahead still:P.  I'm a rampaging flea on a mission baby, and this level is gettin in full force.  Oh great. *SMACK* Reality again.  I have this terrible school project.  I have to design a golf course...It's due after Spring Break.  *SMACK*  Thats it.  I'll dedicate my time to both.  Following is the layout.
  • InZaneFleaArmyInZaneFleaArmy Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 18Members
    Ok...what the ****?  They must've reduced the file upload size.  This is very poor quality:  Omg....A file saved with a quality of 1 in Photoshop is still too big.  Bull.  Whatever.  No layout then.
  • realityisdeadrealityisdead Employed by Raven Software after making ns_nothing Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 94Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->And just like that, Reality smacks me in the face and makes me drop and give it 100.  I just took a look at my first map "Ns_reaper"... It sucked.  The layout, is superb.  I scrapped all that I had, except for the basics (Walls, floors...ceilings..) And I'm at it again.  Hopefully this one will work with me.  Ken20Banks...I'm joining your forces.  Reality, bring it on.  Bast, move aside.  Hera, you can stay ahead still:P.  I'm a rampaging flea on a mission baby, and this level is gettin in full force.  Oh great. *SMACK* Reality again.  I have this terrible school project.  I have to design a golf course...It's due after Spring Break.  *SMACK*  Thats it.  I'll dedicate my time to both.  Following is the layout.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->

    Go for it.

    Even if your map isn't perfect, the experience alone should be well worth the trouble and effort.



    <!--EDIT|ken20banks|Mar. 30 2002,02:32-->
  • DarthDiviDarthDivi Join Date: 2002-03-13 Member: 311Members
    designing a golf course seems fun! at least thos are the sort of projects i enjoy  <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo--> Do it in worldcraft or something  <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->

    I find mapping extreemly hard, without a decent plan it wont work. You are not alone in your difficulties, especially when with ns there are so many aspects to take into consideration (layout, commander mode, weldable routes, optimised areas for level 5 and bob etc).
  • pielemuispielemuis Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 72Members, NS1 Playtester
    Inzane if you liek your layout, you could make that map anyway, like I said before, the official CS maps, had to undergo changes every time a new beta was released, maps need tweaking, I believe if you liek it and enjoyed making it other people will follow, besides it woudl be a shame you'd quit now, really you've become a lot better lately, if you keep at it you'll make a good mapper once, and as for insipiration, watch lots of sifi-movies, read some sifi-books, a good idea may come out of combining several aspects from different sources...
  • InZaneFleaArmyInZaneFleaArmy Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 18Members
    Thebig reason I scrapped Breakdown was the terrible area for the beginning.  Well...It was, terrible.  Reaper has a superb layout.  

    "designing a golf course seems fun! at least thos are the sort of projects i enjoy   Do it in worldcraft or something"

    I already thought of doing it in WC.  Cept it's due the day after Spring Break, so I can't ask my teacher if thats ok.  That'd rock tho.
  • nrbynrby Join Date: 2002-03-05 Member: 270Members
    Just remeber everytime you use worldcraft, everytime you start a map, build a room scrap it, design it whatever, you're gaining experiance and building up a knoledge base - even if you don't think you are.

    Learning architecture and stypes, layouts etc takes a LONG time. Every single mapper, EVEREYONE professional, amateur whatever, gets mental blocks, loses enthusiasm for a map and have time when nothing looks right or seems to work properly. Its just part of the game.

    There have been times in my past when i've considered throwing it all in because every map i made looked like a huge pile of ### but that only makes it 10x better when you pull off something that looks great.

    Stick with it, its a steep learning curve and once you overcome the difficulties of layouts and balance it gets a LOT easier.

    Experiance, Experiance, Experiance.
  • YamazakiYamazaki Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 21Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    And when you can't focus on the project at hand... doodle. Just make random hallways, rooms and setpieces that pop in your head. Let worldcraft be your scrap paper. Your mind will be kept in the mapping frame of mind as you make these disconnected works of architecture, and eventually some inspiration will strike you. Also it's good to try out wild and crazy ideas, because wild and crazy ideas sometimes spawn workable ideas. Artists sketch constantly to improve their skill, so in a sense you'll be 'sketching' as well.
  • CrematorCremator Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 27Members
    I liked a lot of the work that you did, man.

    When I started mapping, I constantly started my maps over and over again because I would pick up new ideas and new ways of doing things.  Many times I got mad and threw out the map.

    However, I know many people who have started mapping, but just don't work for it.  I mean, it just isn't their thing.  Heck, I've been mapping for several years and I still don't know how committed I am.  If you really don't think mapping is your thing, then maybe it isn't.
  • InZaneFleaArmyInZaneFleaArmy Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 18Members
    I've always wanted to make games in this sort of way.  I even spent $100 on a Game Programming Starter Kit" which found a way to destroy my old comp.  It's really my only hobby... I don't have anything else I want to do in life.  It's just that when I start, I think of how much more fun it would be to do something else.  Makes me mad.
  • nrbynrby Join Date: 2002-03-05 Member: 270Members
    you wanna make an omlette, you gotta break some eggs.
  • The_ArtistThe_Artist Join Date: 2002-03-11 Member: 305Members
    Listen to me man....hang in there, in the only person who knows how to map in like 30 mile radius of me so i get no help from n e 1 local !!!

    For inspiration, play through games thats were i get inspiration or play through half-life again (i know its not amazing mapping but hey...)

    Aliens versus Predator 2 is an amazing place to get ideas for corridors and infested rooms (just dont copy the the areas <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo--> )
  • MouseMouse The Lighter Side of Pessimism Join Date: 2002-03-02 Member: 263Members, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->I even spent $100 on a Game Programming Starter Kit<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    me too! now if only i could be bothered finding it

    anyway keep mapping but don't map like your on a scedule. i only map when i have ideas. i find mapping when i don't have ideas is counter productive. in my opinion, if you really want to you should have a break so you don't get burnt out. while your having your break read/watch anything you can find. it doesn't matter what it's about. then one day you'll be sitting down reading/watching something and think to yourself 'hey this would work really good in my map'
    and then you'll dust off worldcraft and start mapping again.
    (well thats how it's supposed to work)

    BTW sometimes i'll stop mapping for months at a time because i have mappers block (follow the ideas, if there are no ideas you have no coice but to stop and wait for another one to follow)
  • MerkabaMerkaba Digital Harmony Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 22Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester
    I spent £30 on AvP2, and I'm too scared to play it.

    Back on topic...if it is frustrating you, give it a break. Come back to it in a week, a month, whatever it takes. Personally I'm hopeless at staying consistent...I seem to have a bout of mapping and then pause for a long time not even being able to open up <s>Worldcraft</s> 'Teh Hammer', cos I just lose all focus on what I am meant to be doing.

    I can't really offer much advice in this area for the reason I stated above - I'm horrible at keeping consistent. Maybe if I was being paid to do what I do, yeah, but when you're spending your own time doing it, it sometimes feels like you're getting nowhere, and you start to look at the whole mapping situation as some sort of contest. It's not. You are as good as you can be; you just have to make yourself better! And the only way to do that is through practice, keen interest, and enthusiasim. [/rambling]



    <!--EDIT|Merkaba|April 01 2002,12:59-->
  • JedisarJedisar Join Date: 2002-03-03 Member: 264Awaiting Authorization
    Let me help you big time. I don't know how to do lighting or allign Textures.


    Feel better? If not, I'll post a screenshot of my map, ns_crappymappy When I get home.
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    i dont kno what aligning textures is. while that aint so bad, u should kno i try to make maps <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin--> Thats the great thing about the internet. No matter how pitiful you are there is always someone out there worse than you<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> -Somebody
  • FlayraFlayra Game Director, Unknown Worlds Entertainment San Francisco Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 3Super Administrators, NS2 Developer, Subnautica Developer
    Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.  Persistence is WAY more important then talent, trust me.

    If you love doing the layouts, and hate doing the mapping part, maybe you should concentrate on the game-flow, and create layouts for others?  Lots of mappers like working on the visuals, but hate coming up with good layouts.
  • Black_WolfBlack_Wolf Join Date: 2002-03-13 Member: 310Members
    i cant come up with a layout to save myself  <!--emo&???--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'><!--endemo-->
Sign In or Register to comment.